Active Directory (
AD) is a technology created by
Microsoft that provides a variety of network services, including:
using the same database, for use primarily in
Windows environments. Active Directory also allows administrators to assign policies, deploy software, and apply critical updates to an organization. Active Directory stores information and settings in a central database. Active Directory networks can vary from a small installation with a few hundred objects, to a large installation with millions of objects (though not easily
[3]).
Active Directory was previewed in 1996, released first with
Windows 2000 Server edition, and revised to extend functionality and improve administration in
Windows Server 2003. Additional improvements were made in both
Windows Server 2003 R2 and
Windows Server 2008.
Active Directory was called
NTDS (
NT Directory Service) in older Microsoft documents. This name can still be seen in some AD
binaries.
There is a common misconception that Active Directory provides software distribution. Software distribution is run by a separate service that uses additional proprietary schema attributes that work in conjunction with the
LDAP protocol. Active Directory does not automate software distribution, but provides a mechanism by which other services can provide software distribution.
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